Government accelerates permanent housing and infrastructure reconstruction in flood-hit Pidie Jaya

He noted in a statement on Sunday that accelerating the construction of permanent housing is vital so that residents whose homes were heavily damaged or lost can have certainty regarding where they will live. Karnavian—who also serves as Chair of the Sumatra Post-Disaster Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Acceleration Task Force—explained that the construction process relies on the local governments, particularly in ensuring the validity of recipient data. He emphasized that the accuracy and completeness of data provided by local authorities are the deciding factors in how quickly the housing can be built. “The key to building these permanent homes is data. The district head has asked for them to be built as quickly as possible, but the number one factor for acceleration is the data from the local government,” he explained. In addition to permanent housing, the minister also underscored the acceleration of infrastructure development, especially bridges damaged by the disasters that hit the district and other regions across Aceh in late 2025. He affirmed that he has coordinated with the Minister of Public Works regarding the construction of permanent two-lane bridges to facilitate public mobility and logistics distribution. The minister noted that the local route is a vital access point connecting Medan and Banda Aceh and is frequently used by large trucks, necessitating strong and reliable construction. Despite the progress made, he acknowledged that several issues remain, such as homes still affected by mud and approximately 1,500 hectares of rice fields that have yet to recover. The Indonesian government is also considering long-term measures, including the construction of sabo dams and the strengthening of embankments to reduce the risk of future flooding. Through inter-ministerial coordination and local government support, he hopes that the acceleration of infrastructure and permanent housing development will be effective, ensuring that the recovery in Aceh, particularly in Pidie Jaya, is comprehensive and provides certainty for affected residents. Related news: Indonesia’s parliament reviews Sumatra flood recovery Related news: Indonesia accelerates access, housing recovery in flood hit East Aceh Related news: BNPB deploys 220 students to verify flood, landslide damage in Aceh Translator: Fianda Sjofjan, Raka Adji Copyright © ANTARA 2026